Lathrop Homes residents told they have to move

Lathrop is a CHA development on the North Side

March 15, 2011

In January, the Chicago Housing Authority gave 80 relocation notices to families living in the Lathrop Homes. They were given options to live on another part of the property or move to other CHA apartments.

Lathrop, on the citys' North Side, is scheduled for redevelopment. Residents don’t want public housing to make way for more expensive units. They also don't want Lathrop to turn into a mixed-income community. They say the surrounding neighborhood is already mixed income.

Tenants like Shirley Centeno are nervous about the CHA’s intentions.

"This makes me believe you’re moving us without a plan. You’re promising us we’re going to move into these temporary apartments with a promise to come back with new rehabbed place. But you have no plan. You showed us nothing," Centeno said.

CHA officials said safety is an issue -- that’s why they are clearing out areas with low occupancy.

They said the relocation has nothing to do with future Lahtrop redevelopment plans.